Archived News

3rd October 2011

When the boys were younger I used to take them out to the harvest fields to see Laurence, otherwise they’d see very little of him for three months.  Laurence would stop for a bite to eat and then we’d each take a turn around the field in the combine harvester.  Nowadays the boys are helping out on the farm and I’ve only managed a couple of trips in the combine this year; too busy painting and decorating!

Before returning to agricultural college for a new term, Luke worked here during harvest; loading and carting straw back to the farm.  A friend of the family, Frank Ibbott also worked this summer and although he knew the hours would be long, I don’t think anything could prepare him for the reality of harvest time (just as it was for Luke two years ago!)

Despite the hard work, I’m sure Frank enjoyed the experience which undoubtedly enhanced his CV and certainly gave him a taste of the ‘Real World’!

The wheat harvested on heavy ground was very good, with over 3.5 tonnes per acre.  The barley, triticale and wheat on sandy soils had poor yields due to drought conditions in April. The drought was followed by rain which resulted in a second growth of barley causing an uneven crop; whilst harvest was delayed for the later plants to ripen, the seed heads of the earlier barley plants were falling to the ground.   Oilseed rape did well on all soils.

Harvest has been drawn out by the weather and Laurence finally cut the last of the Triticale at Hackhurst on Saturday.  On a positive note, Ed and David have been cultivating and drilling since July, going into fields soon after the straw bales have been shifted out.

Crops drilled so far: 200 acres wheat at Park Farm and 190 acres at Shalford; 25 acres barley at Raikes; 45 acres of oats at Paddington and a total of 480 acres oilseed rape at Cranleigh, West Lane and Whitedown.

Still to drill: 100 acres oats, 200 acres wheat and 50 acres barley.